More than 300 people from 20 countries gathered under the lights at the Epiphany Center for the Arts in Chicago, and another 260 via livestream, to celebrate and honor the winners of People of Play’s 15th annual Toy & Game International Excellence Awards (The TAGIE Awards). The event, which was back in person for the first time in two years, was sponsored by Disney, Oxford Games, Mattel, The Michael Kohner Corporation, Hasbro, TOMY, Longshore, Nextoy, Spin Master, Super Impulse, Backdrop.com, Peggy Brown Creative and Barry and Jason.
“The evening was absolutely magical,” said Mary Couzin, President and Founder of People of Play. “After back to back years of virtual events, it was so wonderful to all be together again.”
During the evening, People of Play honored three industry heavyweights with its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award including Kantaro Tomiyama, Chairman and CEO of TOMY, who appeared on stage with fellow Lifetime Achievement Honoree, Alan Hassenfeld, former CEO of Hasbro.
“It is my honor and privilege to accept this recognition from my peers,” said Chairman Tomiyama. “I share this award with all of the TOMY colleagues who have always made a sincere and continuous effort to become friends with children around the world for nearly 100 years of TOMY’s history. Without their help, this honor would not have been possible. This award is certainly not our final goal. TOMY will continue to evolve and grow.”
“It is said that our greatest natural resource is our children. To be honored for trying to bring smiles to the faces of kids around the world and be a part of creating a hopeful future for them, I am overwhelmed with this Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Mr. Hassenfeld. “I accept it humbly on behalf of three generations of Hassenfelds and our extended Hasbro family who are our greatest asset. As we enter our 100th year at Hasbro in 2023, we are indebted to The TAGIEs, our industry, and children the world over.”
Leslie Scott, the founder of Oxford Games and inventor of Jenga also received a Lifetime Achievement Award. She shared, “To have been honored by my peers, colleagues and friends with a TAGIE Lifetime Achievement Award was astonishing, and without a doubt, the greatest achievement of my professional life.”
Here is the official list of the 15th annual TAGIE Awards winners:
Toy Innovator of the Year
Bang Zoom Design and SG Labs for DJ Bouncin’ Beats with Fisher-Price
Game Innovator of the Year – Sponsored by the Michael Kohner Corporation
Daryl Andrews for the Real Truth Game with Goliath
rising Staar Innovator of the Year – Sponsored by TOMY
Julian Miller and David McGranaghan for It’s Bananas, Fire In The Hole and UpRoar
Most Innovative Marketing and PR Team of the Year – Sponsored by Spin Master
Hasbro PR, Nerf Team, and the Martin Agency for Murph: “Unleash the Play in You” Campaign
Most Innovative Art and Design Visuals of the Year – Sponsored by Longshore
Rita Orlov & Jack Fallows for The Light in the Mist
Most Innovative Supplier of the Year
Wizards of the Coast with R.R. Donnelley
Most Innovative Retailer of the Year
Snakes and Lattes
Most Innovative License of the Year
New York Times and Hasbro for Wordle: The Party Game
Young Innovator of the Year (under 18 years old) – Sponsored by Disney
Cooper Dean for Chicken Poo Bingo with Goliath Games
2022 Lifetime Achievement – Sponsored by Hasbro
Kantaro Tomiyama, Chairman and CEO of TOMY
Alan G. Hassenfeld, Former chairman of Hasbro
Leslie Scott, Founder of Oxford Games and Inventor of Jenga
2022 Game Changer of the Year – Sponsored by Mattel
James Howard for his work with Black Inventors got Game (BIGG)
Congratulations to all the winners of the 15th annual TAGIE Awards! Mark your calendars for next year!